Opening Medley: Dóchas / King of Laois / Paddy’s Jig / O’Keefes / Chattering Magpie
The Chieftains Lyrics


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Our bed we live, our bed we sleep
Making love and I become you
Flesh is warm with naked feet
Stabbing thorns and you become me
Oh, I'd beg for you. Oh, you know I'll beg for you.

Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me
Ask if you can bring a friend
Pick a flower, hold your breath
And drift away...

She holds my hand we share a laugh,
Slipping orange blossom breezes
Love is still and sweat remains
A cherished gift unselfish feeling...
Oh, I'd beg for you. Oh, you know I'll beg for you.

Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me
Ask if you can bring a friend
Pick a flower, hold your breath
And drift away...

She tells me things, I listen well
Drink the wine and save the water
Skin is smooth, I steal a glance
Dragon flies "er" gliding over...
Oh, I'll beg for you. Oh, you know I'll beg for you.

Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave
If you should die before me
Ask if you can bring a friend




Pick a flower, hold your breath
And drift away...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in this song seem to be about a deep connection between two lovers. The opening lines seem to suggest that they are very intimate with each other, almost becoming one person in the act of making love. They describe the warmth of each other's flesh and the stabbing thorns, perhaps a reference to the pain that can come with intense emotions. The chorus is about picking a song and singing a yellow nectarine, asking to bring a friend if one dies before the other, perhaps a reminder to cherish life and not take anything for granted.


The second verse continues with the intimate theme, describing shared moments of laughter and love, and the selflessness that comes with cherishing someone deeply. The reference to slipping orange blossom breezes and dragonflies gliding over suggests a peaceful idyllic setting for these shared moments. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the importance of love and cherishing the people in our lives while we have them.


Overall, the song seems to be about the value of deep connections and cherishing the people we love. It reminds us to live fully and appreciate the moments we have with those we care about, and to not take anything for granted.


Line by Line Meaning

Our bed we live, our bed we sleep
We share a life together, sleeping side by side in the same bed.


Making love and I become you
Through the act of love, we become one with each other.


Flesh is warm with naked feet
Our bodies touch and feel warmly, even with bare feet.


Stabbing thorns and you become me
We experience and share both the good and the painful parts of life, becoming deeply connected.


Oh, I'd beg for you. Oh, you know I'll beg for you.
I love and cherish you so much that I would do anything for you, and you know this to be true.


Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Choose a joyful song to sing, like the sweetness of a ripe, yellow nectarine.


Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave
Even in the smallest things, like sharing bathwater, I will cherish anything that reminds me of you.


If you should die before me
If, by fate or circumstance, you pass away before I do.


Ask if you can bring a friend
Please don't be alone in the afterlife, request for company.


Pick a flower, hold your breath
Gather a beautiful flower, and pause to enjoy its fleeting beauty.


And drift away...
Let your mind drift away, even just for a moment.


She holds my hand we share a laugh,
We find joy in each other's company, holding hands and sharing laughter.


Slipping orange blossom breezes
The warm, citrusy scent of orange blossoms fills the air around us.


Love is still and sweat remains
Although our love is stable and consistent, the physical attraction between us still exists.


A cherished gift unselfish feeling...
Our love is a treasured present, given and received with selflessness and generosity.


She tells me things, I listen well
We communicate effectively, listening attentively to one another.


Drink the wine and save the water
We savor the taste of the wine, while also conserving and appreciating our resources.


Skin is smooth, I steal a glance
I sneak a peek at your smooth skin, admiring your beauty.


Dragon flies "er" gliding over...
The dragonflies gracefully fly overhead, a simple and lovely moment.


Oh, I'll beg for you. Oh, you know I'll beg for you.
My love for you is so strong that I will plead and beseech for any chance to be with you.


Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine
Choose to sing a joyful tune, with a bright and sweet sound.


Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave
Even the remnants of your presence, like the water you leave after bathing, brings me comfort.


If you should die before me
If our time together is cut short by your passing.


Ask if you can bring a friend
Please don't be alone in the afterlife, request for company.


Pick a flower, hold your breath
Take a moment to pause and appreciate the beauty of nature.


And drift away...
Surrender yourself to the peaceful feeling of drifting away.




Contributed by Jacob K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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tom canterbury


on North Amerikay

the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist

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